Life Is Too Short: What's On Your Sports/Travel Bucketlist?
I lost my father on Christmas 2019 just prior to Covid. That just reconfirmed to me that life is too short and motivated me to travel internationally for the first time in 5 years. I called my manager and told her that I had not been outside the US since I started my job and she gave me the green light to take some time off. I have quite a few items on my bucket list and was able to knock out 2 of them just before Covid shut down the world.
January 2020 - Ten days in Australia. Bondi Beach & Opera House in Sydney. Great Barrier reef in Cairns. Australian Open in Melbourne.
February 2020 - Ten days in Costa Rica.
Next week knocking off Maine, NH, and Vermont off my never-been-to list (5 more states to go after that) as well as Montreal for F1. Capping off that trip by sitting on top of the green monster for Tigers @ Red Sox.
My bucket list still includes several countries, Africa to hit 6 continents, and many sporting events (Masters, Wimbledon, etc) as well as dozens of college football stadiums (25 P5 down).
What's on your sports/travel bucket list and what are your plans to check them off?
Sports - 2028 Olympics in California with my family. I could literally stop going to all sports after that and be satisfied.
Travel - flying over the green fields of Ireland in a small plane.
Love the flying bit. I'm gonna spend a month island hopping in the Caribbean in a Piper 600 SLS
I'd love to do a tour of Speyside distilleries in Scotland
It's great, but make your way all over Scotland if the opportunity permits.
The one main bucket list item I’m thankful I have checked off. Played St. Andrews old course and toured the Glenlivet distillery. It’s an excellent trip that I highly recommend.
Rose Bowl. Even if it means losing to Ohio State to get there.
I'd love to do a distillery tour of Scotland, focusing on Islay whiskies.
Sports -
1. Lions Super Bowl (I am 48, hopefully sometime in the next 40 years)
2. Michigan Nat Champ game (football or basketball)
Travel -
1. Prague
2. Greece (all of it)
3. Turkey
4. Iran (if the political situation improves)
I am Italian and we do spend a lot of time in Italy (or at least we did pre-Covid), so I have no idea why I haven't already been to Prague and Greece
Turkey is AMAZING.
The Hagia Sofia has been on my short list, but I don't know enough of Erdogan regime's treatment of Americans to go there yet. I'm sure the people are just as nice as the Turks I've met here, but what about the gov't? When were you last there?
Travel Advisory
Turkey - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Security forces have detained tens of thousands of individuals, including U.S. citizens, for alleged affiliations with terrorist organizations based on scant or secret evidence and grounds that appear to be politically motivated. U.S. citizens have also been subject to travel bans that prevent them from departing Turkey. Participation in demonstrations not explicitly approved by the Government of Turkey, as well as criticism of the government (including on social media) can result in arrest.
I went in 2019. It was fine outside of being stopped by plain clothes police a couple times for passport checks. We had a "military" look so they thought we were soldiers.
I'm ex-military, but that was 30 years and 60 pounds ago. Thank you for the real life perspective!
the sports items are out of your control, so find a few things that are IN your control. pick some games/events/venues and make those happen!
Good point although I guess NIL means we can all chip in as far as Michigan.
I am looking forward to the 2026 World Cup but still too far out to really put thought into it.
We toured five cities in Iran in 2016. I found the people to be the friendliest I’ve ever met while traveling. Highly recommend.
If you are a baseball fan and/or someone who appreciates obscene chants, try to see a game in Fenway Park.
Yeah, Fenway and Wrigley and Yankee Stadium are musts for baseball fans. Been lucky enough to visit all three (although not the new Yankee Stadium).
I like to experience sports when I travel. Great way to take in a culture. Saw a Nippon Ham Fighters game in Japan and Yu Darvish was pitching (complete luck). Fascinating crowd etiquette in Japan. The batting teams fans all stand and cheer and sing in a very coordinated way kind of like soccer fans (with different songs and chants for each batter). And then at the change of inning, it swaps. So when the third out is made, those fans all sit down and the other teams fans stand and do their thing as their team bats.
Sumo in Japan was also really cool.
I am a huge fan of taking in local sports when I travel. Baseball and sumo in Japan are experiences. In much of the world the biggest thing is soccer, but sometimes the weird sports subcultures - like lucha libre, or highland games, or kabaddi - that's where I want to be.
I lived in Japan for 4 years and can confirm their baseball games are a blast compared to ours.
Attended the semifinal of the innaguaral World Baseball Classic at Petco Park between Japan and Korea and yeah fans on both sides were VERY spirited. Dress up, face paint, large drums and other "instruments" to make noise, chanting and singing the entire game + before and after. Much fun.
I vacation regularly with the family wherever the consensus takes us, so no real bucket list per se.
In the unlikely event I predecease my wife, I plan on getting a blue water sailboat and sail somewhat aimlessly.
"In the unlikely event I predecease my wife, I plan on getting a blue water sailboat and sail somewhat aimlessly."
That would be an impressive feat...sailing in the afterlife.
I am both impressed by the word use (pre and decease are straightforward enough, but I have never seen them used as a single word before) and that MGoHillbilly must have looked it up and carefully placed that word. So, i guess to sailing on blue seas as a metaphorical afterlife either before or after you or your wife's unfortunate passing. Hear, hear!
Stupid mobile phones. Didn't include "don't". I'm sure everyone catches my drift.
Sports (and travel I suppose) > World Cup abroad. Too bad Russia and Qatar are/were not places I wanted to go, but I had/have young kids so probably wouldn't have been able to get wife permission anyway.
The US hosting in 2026 will be cool, but I really want to go in a soccer crazy place like Europe or South America (I should have gone in 2014 before having kids).
Travel > list is so long but currently wanting to do an Alpine lakes summer trip (some combo of Como, Annecy, Lucerne, etc.). I also really enjoy traveling for the purpose of being at festivals / cultural events. i.e. going to a place at the right time. I've done the festival of san fermin in pamplona (running with the bulls) and it was incredible. Done Oktoberfest and it was incredible. Want to do the Palio (another sports-travel combo) in Sienna and Kings Day in Amsterdam among others.
Well, life is too short, so love the one you got
'Cause you might get run over or you might get shot
Great question, OP. And sorry to hear about your loss.
Travel: I'd just like to have an adventure. Maybe just pack up a camper and travel across the entire country for a year, stopping when and where I feel like stopping. Entirely out of the way places. Talking to local people. Kind of like Steinbeck in Travels with Charley. If I had the balls, it would probably be to travel the entire Pan-American Highway. My dog for company, of course.
Sports: Take a 3-4 month vacation in the fall and just travel to different venues in the B1G on different weekends. Driving from location to location, spending a couple of days on each campus. The next year, do the same thing but out west in PAC country.
My husband and I used to talk about following Michigan for a season, going to all the games, as soon as our kids were grown. His current job makes that impossible but maybe someday.
thanks. and yes, do that fall football trip. I decided long ago to branch out and see games/campuses across the country instead of spending all my time/emotion on Michigan only games, and I'm thrilled with that decision.
Champions League Final
AS Roma playing a match to clinch a scudetto (pipe dream)
Michigan vs OSU, MSU, and Notre Dame in Ann Arbor (I'm going to try and attend the MSU game this year)
Michigan CFP Semis
Michigan CFP Championship
Michigan Rose Bowl
NCAA BB Final 4 w/Michigan
To visit some of the great soccer venues starting with Dortmund. (Although, I'll get to see Ajax's stadium next May when I see Springsteen there. Ticket purchased this morning!)
The next major trips I would like to take are:
Italy. (for a month or two)
Spain.
Portugal.
Greece.
Uzbekistan
UZ is an underrated destination for Americans. It is amazing and has a bunch of truly ancient history and culture like you cannot experience anywhere else. It is quite cheap and the people are incredibly welcoming. It is easy to go with a tour group but if you can get off the beaten path you'll have some fun interactions. Speaking a bit of Russian or Uzbek helps, but you'll be able to get by regardless.
Reading books about Genghis Khan and Tamerlane really made me want to visit the area.
I wanna see M in the Rose Bowl, or win the natty.
travel wise, it'd be cool to go to New Zealand and see the all blacks in person, and then get lost in the hills for a week or so.
Hopefully watching them get beat by the Boks! 😉
haha for sure, go boks!
We are in LA for the next fews years so, if M gets a Rose Bowl invite while we're here, I will be trying my best to get tickets!
I'm surprised I haven't seen more people putting New Zealand on their lists. My wife and I went in 2019 and it was hands down the best vacation we've ever taken. We rented a car and Air BnB'd our way around the north island. The next time we go, I want to rent a sleeper van and tour the south island!
So - i have a story - great timing.
I'm a big Celtics fan, but have never been to the Garden, old or new. Seen them in various cities/places i've lived, but always wanted to go. Grew up a Bird fan and it stuck.
2 weeks ago, my wife and I were watching the Celtics beat up on Miami, and I thought... good god, how cool would it be to see the celtics for a playoff game! She said... how much are tickets?? 3 hrs later of searching for hotels/flights/tix, my older son and i were booked to go. Yay for the wife.
12 hours later she tested positive for COVID, so we all avoided her. 2 days before the game, I hurt my back playing with the kids (its chronic),a nd was worried I couldnt go. My son (11 years old) was really understanding, but hopeful we could still go. We did! Managed to handle back stuff accordingly...
We got to Boston on Monday mid-day for a Monday night game. Something was off about him all day, very tired, not eating much, and finally it culminated with projectile vomit in the hotel 1 hr before the game. This kid NEVER says he's tired and is always up for whatever. I asked him if he thought he could handle going to the game and just watching a little... he said.. no... and was in bed feeling miserable. I sold the tickets at a huge loss 20 minutes before game time, and ordered door dash to the hotel and ate my cold quesadilla in the dark, quiet room while i watched the game on tv. Boo for the wife.
We come home, he tests positive for COVID, is in the ER 2x with stomach pain, but finally by Friday starts recovering.
Fast forward to Monday this week - a buddy of mine is a senior VP for one of the other NBA teams... called his counterpart in Boston - they offered up 2 face value tickets for the finals this coming Wednesday after hearing our story.
So, with any luck - we are on our way to an NBA finals game of our favorite team against arguably the most "fun" team in the NBA (a team i've wanted to see in person) in Boston next Wednesday!
Bucket list item achieved (I HOPE!)
Jealous. Only thing better would be a finals game against the Lakers. Hopefully JT, Timelord and the boys remember that the home court is an advantage for the home team.
yeah, the good news is.. even if we're down 2-0, its still a legit huge game to get things back on track. They tend to flop at home, so hopefully that isnt the case. I dont have to see a win (though that would be great), but i really dont want to see them get crushed at home...
I'm not sure Williams is going to play much. Such a shame he isnt healthy. Wish we could have let him rest longer initially, but who knew BK would fold like a cheap tent. And we needed 7 games in the next 2 series. so.. there was never a good time. Some are arguing they should keep him out in Game 1 because itll give him a full week off and game 1 isnt a must win.
I also realize this is a super first world, priviliged story, but... it seemed perfect for the board topic.
awesome story, good luck!
I would like to see all 4 tennis majors. My wife's onboard, because that takes us to the East coast, England, France, and Australia.
I've got France left to go! Haven't been as urgent about it since Roger hasn't played clay in years.
I would like to have seen Montana.
vlady, the problem is that you'd have to get shot and i (and others here) would not take your passing away well.
Unfortunately, I'm worth more dead than alive right now.
Keep your head up, HP. I'm sure something good is coming your way.
The only two places I still really need to visit are Scotland and Australia. If time permitted, I'd add New Zealand to the Australia trip. Now that our kids are out of the house, I'm sure we'll start planning those. As far as sporting events, there's only one left. My son, who graduated from college three weeks ago, just started a job as a pitching development coach with the Cubs Arizona rookie league/training center. He had his first game last night in Mesa. I need to go to one of those games where he's in Cubs garb, either in the dugout or in the bullpen, as a coach. It's already incredibly surreal, but that would blow my mind.
my advice is to NOT add NZ to your Australian trip. While they are in the same area of the world, they are not all that close. Plus there's so much to do in both countries that you should focus on one at a time. That's just my two cents.
This will sound ignorant as I've never been there, but is there really that much to do in New Zealand, especially if you're not overly into nature? I've heard great things about Auckland and I could imagine doing some sailing, water activities but wouldn't imagine spending more than a week there.